1 week Ago
Pune: When many sitting MLAs across the state face anti-incumbency ahead of the assembly election, there are 12 legislators who have managed to win their seats for more than five consecutive terms, including three who have remained undefeated seven times in a row from the same constituency. At least 11 of them are back in the poll arena to contest the Nov 20 assembly election. PWPI leader late Ganpatrao Deshmukh was the longest-serving MLA in Maharashtra's history, elected to the state assembly for 11 consecutive terms from Sangola constituency.
Among the current serving legislators, Congress MLA Balasaheb Thorat is the seniormost. He won the Sangamner seat for eight consecutive terms since 1985 and is now eyeing a ninth win. On how he manages to defeat anti-incumbency in the constituency, Balasaheb Thorat said, "The most important thing is to have a clear vision, and one should sincerely work hard for it.
This has been the way for my consistent victory. Once I win the election and our celebrations are over, the first paper with which I go to people is the beginning of my preparation for the next election." The other MLAs who remained undefeated in their respective constituencies for a longer period include Dilip Walse Patil from Ambegaon and Jayant Patil from Islampur, who has won seven consecutive terms since 1990.
Similarly, deputy CM Ajit Pawar has also won all the assembly elections from Baramati after he first won the byelection in 1991. Babanrao Shinde, former MLA of NCP (undivided), who won from Madha constituency for six consecutive terms, is not contesting the election this time. His son Ranjit Shinde is in the fray as an independent.
Besides, there are five legislators who have remained undefeated in their respective constituencies since 1995, while three more have not lost any assembly election since 1990. Some MLAs, like Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil from Shirdi, changed three political parties, including Shiv Sena, Congress, and BJP, in the last 30 years. Others like Vijaykumar Gavit from Nandurbar, who won his first election as an independent in 1995, switched to NCP later, after his first term and is currently associated with the BJP.
Thorat and Ranjit Kamble from Deoli seat have remained loyal to the Congress, while Girish Mahajan and Mangal Prabhat Lodha stayed with the BJP for years despite changes in the govt at the centre and state. Political analysts say that family legacy plays an important role in constituencies like Baramati, Shirdi and Sangamner. "The institutional network of these leaders in their respective constituencies, such as education institutes, sugar mills, or cooperative banks helps them establish a regular connection with a large number of their voters.
In some cases, these voters are also dependent on their leaders because they benefit in some way," Parimal Maya Sudhakar, associate professor at the MIT's School of Government, Pune, said. He added that most of these constituencies are comparatively well-developed, and basic issues are not a major problem here, hence, the MLAs manage to tackle anti-incumbency. "They also make sure that caste-based leaders remain in their favour so that there is no other big leader to challenge them within the constituency," Parimal added.
Cong's Thorat Leads The Pack With Eight Terms Balasaheb Thorat from Sangamner I Congress I Since 1985 Seven Terms, Since 1990 Jayant Patil I Islampur I NCP (SCP) Dilip Walse Patil I Ambegaon I NCP * Ajit Pawar I Baramati NCP I Since 1991 Six terms, Since 1995 Vijaykumar Gavit I Nandurbar I BJP Girish Mahajan I Jamner I BJP Mangal Prabhat Lodha I Malabar Hill I BJP Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil I Shirdi I BJP Babanrao Shinde I Madha I NCP (undivided) Five terms, Since 1999 Ranjit Kamble I Deoli I Congress Balasaheb alias Shamrao Patil I Karad North I NCP (SCP) Hasan Mushrif I Kagal I NCP.
